UP cop's murder: We will not spare any criminal, says Akhilesh

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Last Updated: Thu, Mar 07, 2013 05:35 hrs

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has denied the charges of backing and protecting Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, who resigned as a minister on Tuesday after he was booked in the killing of the Deputy Superintendent.

"When Raja Bhaiya's name came up in the FIR, the Samajwadi party government acted immediately, asked him to resign and accepted the resignation. If anyone accuses us that we have not taken any steps in the case, it is incorrect," the 39-year-old chief minister told NDTV.

"In this case, I have personally visited the cop's family and have agreed to all their demands. We have never protected any criminals and will definitely probe into the matter, even against ministers involved in wrongdoing," said Yadav who has directed for a CBI inquiry into the matter.

While, Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Tuesday called UP a "lawless state", Akhilesh Yadav assured that his government has tried to rid his state of any lawlessness and would not compromise on the same when the government is about to observe its first anniversary on March 15.

"If it's about the law, Samajwadi party government has always tried to improve the law and security of the state. We will spare no criminals and will even punish the MLAs, if they are found guilty," he added.

Meanwhile, the autopsy report of the Deputy Superintendent Zia-ul-Haque has revealed that the cop, who went to probe into the murder of Pradhan (village headman) and his brother in the Kunda village was beaten and dragged along the ground before being shot dead, the Uttar Pradesh police said. He had severe injuries on his legs and head.

It is also not clear whether the bullet that killed the cop was shot from his own revolver as it is missing along with the bullet that killed him.

The autopsy report revealed that his body was marked by "lacerated wounds and abrasions" and that he died of "hemorrhage and shock" from a gunshot wound to the right of his chest, said reports.

According to allegations, the four men accused of dragging and killing the slain cop were men of Raghuraj Pratap Singh.

Singh alias Raja Bhaiya, a Cabinet Minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government who was holding the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio, has several criminal cases against him. However, he has not yet been arrested.